Steven has been a major contributor to Groton’s Music Department since Third Form. He began playing the piano in kindergarten and picked up the saxophone in fourth grade, but it wasn’t until eight grade that Steven began playing the bass, his strongest instrument. After Tarik Welch’s ‘12 graduation, Steven readily filled the void as the jazz band’s bassist.

Learning how to read bass sheet music only took him a few months, and since then he has flourished as a key member of the group. Michael You ‘16, the only other four-year member of the Jazz Band, added, “Steven is hella trill at slapping the bass.”

Two years later, following the graduation of Erik Nadeau ‘14, the vacated position provided a new opportunity for growth in Steven’s large repertoire of instruments. He played the drums in the smaller Jazz Combo Group throughout Fifth Form, maintaining his role as the bassist in the large Jazz Band, until this year when he became the fulltime drummer for both ensembles. Steven is also Groton’s radiohead.

On playing music, Steven had a few things to say. He described himself as primitive in his music-making techniques, but graceful nonetheless, noting that he “liked making sounds with his fingers” and later adding that “it’s fun.”

Some of Steven’s music inspirations include The Beatles, Miles Davis, The Grateful Dead, The Band, Bob Dylan, and of course, Dierks Bentley.

Later in the interview, Steven opened up about his future in the music industry. He confessed that outside of country music, there was no other place or path for him. “Walking around my house in the nude with a cowboy hat and my guitar, I truly feel at home,” Steven said, joking. “I love Groton, but there are so few opportunities for me to wear my old hat.”

He described his jazz career on the Circle as a “stepping stone for my future musical endeavors.”

Besides his aforementioned musical motivators, Steven revealed the secret catalyst behind his artistry: “I usually just start hearing sounds in my head a lot,” he said. “Then I write down what I heard, and then I fall asleep. I have trouble remembering sometimes what I was hearing.”

Steve is known for the uncomfortable amount of buttons he leaves undone on stage, his frequent appearances at Open Mic, or his many postludes. However, despite his unorthodox style, he’s as harmonious as they come.

He’s an exemplary Music Prefect and is admired by many as one of the best musicians on the Circle. The Groton Music Department will greatly miss Steven for years to come.